Dutch Firms queueing up to purchase Gartmore

The Netherlands is rife with speculation that a Dutch firm, such as ING, is to buy fund manager Gartmore, recently put up for sale by National Westminster.

ING has entered the frame despite owning rival fund manager Baring Asset Management. The theory is that ING may be prepared to finance the purchase of Gartmore, with a view to more than recouping its outlay by floating 25% of the combined firm on the stock market. ING recently announced the integration of Belgian BBL Asset Management under the name of ING Investment Management...